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Using a Hole Saw

Give your wrist and your drill a break when cutting a large hole.

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Cutting a large-diameter hole through a door or other thick workpiece with a hole saw can strain your wrist and the drill motor. Protect yourself and your drill with this simple trick:

Using the hole saw, cut just enough to score the surface of the wood. Next, remove the saw and bore four or five ¼-inch-diameter holes around the inside edge of the scored circle. Then continue cutting with the hole saw. The holes provide chip-clearing spaces, which keep the saw cutting cooler, cleaner, and easier with less chance of binding.